There is a FOOL born every minute
Aug 27 '01
The Bottom Line I have used book clubs in the past and thought I would try them again. Being a FOOL for free books I tried them again. Bad mistake.
I am the fool as they say; “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”. I had been a member of book clubs in the past with bad results but I bit again this year on ordering books from book clubs. Earlier this summer I was taken in by a phone call offering me a free book if I joined the book club. If I accepted this book then I could order three more from their catalog also free. Well books are my weakness and I questioned the caller on just what books were they offering. She started going down a list and I had to stop her because those were all fiction. I told her I did not care for fiction and asked what was available in non-fiction. She started down the list again and I had read most of them until she came to the Jimmy Carter book “An Hour Before Daylight.” I agree to take that one and that is where this FOOL became entangled with not just one book club but three book clubs.
A FOOL FOR BOOKS
I soon heard from two other book clubs with more offers for free books for joining. I believe that as soon as you say yes to one more come flying through to your mailbox. This FOOL decided to go with one more so now I had all these books coming to my door. It is when those catalogs come and you pour over them to see what you should purchase as with these book clubs you have to purchase so many within a year. It also soon dawned on me I was taken again as they do not offer a good selection of non-fiction books and the postage eats up any savings you might have gotten from your book. I knew I was had again and tried to make the best of it.
BOOKS ARRIVE
The two book clubs I joined was Literary Guild at www.LiteraryGuild.com and Book of the Month at www.bomc.com you have to register and give a password when you join. I soon found out they offer most of the same books and mostly fiction. Their monthly selections are always fiction and you have to let them know if you don’t want those books or they are sent automatically. At least now their updated Web sites you can cancel them as soon as the things come in the mail. I did find it easier to order any book on line so at least that saved me the 34 cents to mail back the card. Their postage for books with bomc is $4.19 first item and $2.80 for second and more for each additional book. With the Literary Guild Book Club they don’t even print out their postage costs in any of their literature and you get the jolt when you receive your books and the bill.
FED UP WITH THESE TWO
I have now finished ordering my allotted quota of books for the year and will be dropping both book clubs in October before we leave for the winter. This FOOL will not be taken in again by free books, as over the long run with what little savings they offer on each book with all that postage and handling it is better to go to Amazon.com. At least I get a full selection of non-fiction books at reasonable price and fast shipping.
A FOOL FOR THE THIRD
Now I said I was a FOOL three times, the third time was after I read Caprig’s review on an Art Book Club. Well I am no FOOL when it comes to Art, so I checked out their Web site is www.artistsnetwork.com/dabc/cart.asp and you must register and give a password to join this club and pick out your free books to start your membership. This is the only time you will use this web site is to join and pick out your free books. Well I love Art and these looked so interesting and this FOOL bit again. It took forever for these books to arrive, I almost thought it did not go through, but after a month the books arrived. I poured over their membership guide with information of no shipping and handling if you paid in advance. Their postage was $3.95 per book and $1.95 for each additional book. Plus they had three club coupons for extra savings with each book you ordered and if buying 4 books you would get the 5th free. It sounded good but there is always a catch.
BOOK DOESN’T ARRIVE
When I checked over the books available it dawned on me I already had many of these books or some just like them. I did find one on Glass Painting that sounded interesting so ordered that for my first book. With this book club you cannot use their web site to cancel their monthly selection you have to send the card back that part I did not like. Since I was ordering a book I paid in advance and began waiting for my book to arrive. It did not arrive, after a month they sent me a card that it was out of stock. In the meanwhile I had ordered another book paid in advance and this one came within three weeks.
A FOOL LEARNS A LESSON
This FOOL was getting angry at myself and with another book club. The last two month’s catalog came and the cards went back pronto to cancel their selections. I then e-mailed them at Customer Service at www.dabc@mbsmm.com trying to find out what happened to my money for the first book and would not order any more books until I know how my account stands, as of today no reply from them. I will be dropping this book club as well but their rules are that they will send you the book catalog for a year but you do not have to order any books. Now I just have to put up with those darn catalogs and return cards even after we leave for the winter. That causes another problem, sometimes the post office will not forward third class mail and those books will be sent if the card is not returned. I may have books to send back when we return to Iowa in the spring. Oh this FOOL is paying the price for those free books and it surely was not worth the hassle. There is no FOOL like an old FOOL and a FOOL and his money are soon parted.
CONCLUSION
I still love books and continue to order more my other problem is many of the books that I now own are not listed on epinions database. I have even written some reviews waiting for the time for epinions to get themselves in gear to update their book section. When newly published books even listed on the bestseller list seems to bring a blind eye to epinions staff. They must be too busy working on this new title system to update things that are already a part of the program. Book clubs may be your choice but study the rules carefully before joining don’t FOOL around and be sorry. IF YOU WISH TO AVOID SEEING A FOOL YOU MUST FIRST BREAK YOUR MIRRORS!!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
grandgram
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Letta Meinen
Location: Central Texas
Reviews written: 455
Trusted by: 275 members
About Me:
Your journey towards a goal starts with that first step.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.